Question

Which diamond is the rarest?

Answer 1

Hint: Carbon exists in a wide number of allotropic forms and diamond is one of them. It is the purest form of carbon. It is a huge three-dimensional polymer containing a large number of \[s{p^3}\] hybridised carbon atoms organised in a tetrahedral structure.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
Red diamonds are typically recognized as the most valuable and the rarest diamond colour, as very limited red diamonds have been found.

When a chemical element exists in two or more different forms in the same physical state, they show the property of allotropy. The different physical forms of an element are called its allotropes.

These exist in a similar physical state but because of the variation in their arrangements, they are distinct.

The distinction between these elements is due to diverse temperatures and pressure being given while extraction. Because of this, stability is different.
The allotropes are linked otherwise but comprise the same basic element.
In diamonds, the carbon atoms are bonded to each other through strong covalent bonds.

Due to the high strength of the covalent bonds, it becomes very difficult to break them. Hence, it is known as the hardest substance on earth.
So, red diamonds are the rarest.

Additional Information: Diamond’s valence electrons are bonded by the C-C sigma covalent bonds, thus making it a poor conductor of electricity, and the valence electrons are localised and are not available for the conduction of the electricity.

Note: Diamonds are rare due to the low extraction rate as they are extracted from the earth at an exceptionally elevated temperature and pressure. Half of the total extracted diamonds are useful. The uniqueness, complications in the mining process, strength, transparency, and appearance of diamonds make them costly and desirable.